Big Sean’s big Joe Louis concert gets boost from Eminem

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Hometown rappers collaborated on ‘Detroit Vs. Everybody’ as Lil Wayne, Dej Loaf, Jhene Aiko and Mike Posner also cameo

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At the end of Big Sean’s supersized homecoming concert at Joe Louis Arena Friday night, an evening that saw him run through a career-spanning mix of album tracks, mixtape nuggets and hit songs, the Detroit rapper brought out the biggest Detroit rapper, Eminem, for a run through of their posse cut “Detroit Vs. Everybody.”

Joined on stage by Royce da 5’9”, Danny Brown and Dej Loaf, Sean stood close to Eminem, who was dressed in a white hoodie and electric red sneakers, as he ripped through his verse on the track from Em’s 2014 “Shady XV” compilation. As the group of Detroit MCs stood tall at the end of the song, and Trick Trick bellowed to the crowd, Joe Louis Arena was as loud as it has been since the Red Wings won their last Stanley Cup.

The moment was bigger than Sean, bigger than Eminem and bigger than the song they performed. It was a statement for the city and about the city, which had been the narrative of the concert all night long. Big Sean made it from Detroit’s west side and has made it his mission to give back to the city, and the “Detroit Vs. Everybody” performance — the first time it has ever been performed live — was both a celebratory ode to the city that made him and a nod to the fans who came out and packed the Joe for Sean’s biggest concert of his career.

The night was packed with guests, as Lil Wayne joined Sean earlier in the night for a five-song suite, and Dej Loaf, Mike Posner and Jhene Aiko also performed with the evening’s host. It was an emotional night for Big Sean, who closed the evening with a performance of “One Man Can Change the World,” and gave an impassioned speech about the city and his rise at the close of the two-hour show, proceeds from which benefited his charity, the Sean Anderson Foundation.

“Oh my God,” Sean said, crouched down on one knee on stage as fans screamed. He knocked his microphone stand over, stood up, and stumbled to regain his footing. “Detroit. This is the best day of my life, man. You know, I’m at a loss for words, but I’m not ready to get off stage because I’m not ready for this to be over.”

He proceeded to pump up the crowd, saying he was proof that dreams can come true, and thanked the fans for their support. “Thank you Detroit, from the bottom of my heart, I love you,” he said. “We’re the best city in the world, we’re the best at everything.”

agraham@detroitnews.com

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